I don't know why the Bills released him as they're only saving $150,000 cap space. They don't have an established QB and I think Fitz is smart enough to accept being a backup. He went to Harvard afterall, right?

Deneb81:The BILLS need a QB and he's on the streets. That should tell you something.Buffalo realized what those fans got right, but it took them years and a big contract to do it.

See, I'd say it has more, dare I say EVERYTHING, to do with the O-line. It's why the Johnson-era Cowboys were so dominant. You build a good offensive line, you could even win a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer.

ddam:I don't know why the Bills released him as they're only saving $150,000 cap space. They don't have an established QB and I think Fitz is smart enough to accept being a backup. He went to Harvard afterall, right?

From the Buffalo News Fitzpatrick was due to count $10.4 million against the Bills' salary cap this season if he had received this week's bonus....In releasing him, the Bills deferred some of the cap hit they will take by giving him a "post-June 1" designation. He will count $3 million against this year's salary cap and $7 million against the Bills' salary cap in 2014.

Those numbers account for amortized bonus money Fitzpatrick already has recieved. Normally, if a player is released before June 1, then all of his bonus money counts against the current year's cap. If a player is released after June 1, only the current year's portion of his bonus money counts against the cap, and the amortized bonus for future years counts the following year.

The Bills were able to take advantage of a rule that allows a team to desginate up to two players a year as post-June 1 cuts, even though they get released before June 1. [\i]

They really needed to get rid of him. Despite the meager cap savings, the sentiment in Buffalo wouldn't allow him to stay. Thank god Nix isn't holding onto him because of the money. He would end up coming back in at some point and starting the whole process over again.

SuperChuck:swankywanky: If the Pats do decide to offer up Mallet for a trade I'd take Fitzpatrick as a backup. (provided he agrees to some contract restructuring)

give him a year or two max to learn the system, draft another young QB during the same timespan and see how he progresses.

Fitzpatrick no longer has a contract so there's no need to restructure anything.

Not to mention he was unwilling to take a $3m/year contract in Buffalo. He wants more than you pay for a backup and SOMEONE will likely grab him as a starter somewhere. CLE wants to run a west coast O...

RangerTaylor:They really needed to get rid of him. Despite the meager cap savings, the sentiment in Buffalo wouldn't allow him to stay. Thank god Nix isn't holding onto him because of the money. He would end up coming back in at some point and starting the whole process over again.

They're splitting/deferring the cap hit. It's a $7m savings this year ($3m hit), and a $7m hit next year.

Versus a $10m hit this year, plus whatever numbers you'd have next year. Also, you don't have to actually pay him any more money.

Nadie_AZ:whizbangthedirtfarmer: Nadie_AZ: Now with just two quarterbacks on Buffalo's roster in Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp, Nix also made it clear the club plans to make an addition to the position.

So ... Tavaris will be the starting QB. Dammit.

Can Spiller be fitted with cybernetic implants so he can run 40 times a game for 16 weeks? We've nothing else on offense (well, Jackson could help him out here and there).

Jackson is a decent QB, but you need to have a team that can build a lead and have a solid defense. If the other team gets ahead--even by a few points--Jackson won't be able to rally them.

Yeeeah. Maybe I'll just buy and watch a set of DVDs on the team from the early 90s this next fall.

SuperChuck:Nadie_AZ: whizbangthedirtfarmer: Nadie_AZ: Now with just two quarterbacks on Buffalo's roster in Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp, Nix also made it clear the club plans to make an addition to the position.

So ... Tavaris will be the starting QB. Dammit.

Can Spiller be fitted with cybernetic implants so he can run 40 times a game for 16 weeks? We've nothing else on offense (well, Jackson could help him out here and there).

Jackson is a decent QB, but you need to have a team that can build a lead and have a solid defense. If the other team gets ahead--even by a few points--Jackson won't be able to rally them.

Yeeeah. Maybe I'll just buy and watch a set of DVDs on the team from the early 90s this next fall.

Might wanna hit stop before the last game of each season...

/just sayin

It'd simply be foreshadowing of doomed decades that were as of yet to come.

ddam:I don't know why the Bills released him as they're only saving $150,000 cap space. They don't have an established QB and I think Fitz is smart enough to accept being a backup. He went to Harvard afterall, right?

GlobalStrategic MapleSyrup Reserve:Dammit. I submitted this twice with 2 different headlines/links and THIS was the one I got in? I guess beggars can't be choosers but here's my other one for anyone who cares:

"Arizona native Ryan Fitzpatrick released by the Bills while flying to Arizona. If only there were a nearby franchise in need of a quarterback"I guess I should have used the Arizona tag.

Arkanaut:GlobalStrategic MapleSyrup Reserve: Dammit. I submitted this twice with 2 different headlines/links and THIS was the one I got in? I guess beggars can't be choosers but here's my other one for anyone who cares:

"Arizona native Ryan Fitzpatrick released by the Bills while flying to Arizona. If only there were a nearby franchise in need of a quarterback"I guess I should have used the Arizona tag.

/stop sayin' Arizona in there!

You must really like Arizona.

The beverage yes. The team and state no, though I do find bolo ties fashionable. I'd just once like to make a major contract signing prediction that proves to be accurate.Seemingly no one had predicted such a thing yet.

Packers gave Jennings an offer for around $10 mill/year a while ago... he may go back to GB if he can't get something similar.

Rashard Mendenhall signs 1 year deal with Cards.

Packers and Steven Jackson agree to 3 year deal

Good. He is just the kinda back the Packers need. I was hoping we could get him or failing that Shonn Greene.

I like how all of the sports talking heads are saying the Pack are the team to beat, now that they have Jackson. Sure, he's good, but everyone seems to have already forgotten that their defense is coached by Dom Capers.

Packers gave Jennings an offer for around $10 mill/year a while ago... he may go back to GB if he can't get something similar.

Rashard Mendenhall signs 1 year deal with Cards.

Packers and Steven Jackson agree to 3 year deal

Good. He is just the kinda back the Packers need. I was hoping we could get him or failing that Shonn Greene.

I like how all of the sports talking heads are saying the Pack are the team to beat, now that they have Jackson. Sure, he's good, but everyone seems to have already forgotten that their defense is coached by Dom Capers.

There is too much parity in the NFL. Every year they say this or that team is the one to beat and they lose their first playoff game. Just get us to the playoffs and hopefully we are hot going into it. That is what wins a ring these days. The last couple of years everybody was ready to crown the Falcons. This year everyone is talking about the Seahawks and Niners.

Packers are a decent team, but last year our biggest problems were defense and running game. Our D is younger and healthier going into this season, and we now have a decent RB. I like our chances.

robsul82:While we're waiting for more news, enjoy Florio pointing out what a difference 48 hours made in Bill Polian's opinion of Reggie Bush.

FTA: "Why did Polian change his tune? Who knows?"

Uhhh... let me jump in there and take this one, Michael David Smith.

What we loosely refer to as "Insight" from "Expert Analysts" on ESPN is basically either glowing praise or condemnation depending on the most recent event to happen in the short, useless memories that these "analysts".

Treygreen13:robsul82: While we're waiting for more news, enjoy Florio pointing out what a difference 48 hours made in Bill Polian's opinion of Reggie Bush.

FTA: "Why did Polian change his tune? Who knows?"

Uhhh... let me jump in there and take this one, Michael David Smith.

What we loosely refer to as "Insight" from "Expert Analysts" on ESPN is basically either glowing praise or condemnation depending on the most recent event to happen in the short, useless memories that these "analysts".

Or, as is more often than not, they give the position/analysis the producers tell them to give, to generate better ratings. Much of it is simply scripted and read off a prompter.

js34603:farbekrieg: afterwards brady goes home has some angry sex with his wife then says... wtf was i upset about?

Yep that's why he's Tom Brady and we're talking about him on a forum. He has angry sex with that and still cares about winning football games.

and after its downgraded yet again from tom was upset, to person close to brady was upset, the next statement is tom was never upset and wishes wes welker the best with his new team, and the pats and broncos fight for 2nd place place in the afc while some other wildcard team takes the afc.

/i get that he shills for uggs, but can you really take the opinion of someone who does seriously?